Middle East
Middle East news from UK Parliament.
Government announces substantial and immediate changes to aid budget
The UK aid budget will no longer be linked to changes in the UK’s gross national income, instead being given a fixed budget potentially protecting it from spending by other departments, the Government has confirmed.
27 March 2025
Dame Emily Thornberry: “this is a backwards step and a tragic day for Palestinians”
The Foreign Affairs Committee has issued a statement in response to the Israeli air strikes in Gaza.
18 March 2025
How do the UK and Europe respond to the challenges ahead? Foreign Affairs Committee launches inquiry into UK-EU reset
The Foreign Affairs Committee today launches an inquiry into the Government’s proposed UK-EU “reset”.
07 March 2025
BBC World Service a “vital antidote” to foreign malign actors
The Foreign Affairs Committee is today publishing correspondence between the Committee and the BBC.
04 March 2025
Lord McDonald of Salford: Lord Speaker's Corner
Former top diplomat Simon McDonald, Lord McDonald of Salford, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner
12 February 2025
How stable is the post-Assad coalition? Foreign Affairs Committee to hold session on Syria
The Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a one-off evidence session on the situation in Syria, at 2pm on Tuesday 28 January.
24 January 2025
MPs to hear from grassroot organisations on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Foreign Affairs Committee continues its inquiry into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, hearing from grassroot organisations working in Israel and Palestine on Monday 27 January, at 2pm.
24 January 2025
MPs: as ceasefire announced, UK Government “must do all it can” to protect aid agency
Today the International Development Committee has published a report on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
17 January 2025
Foreign Affairs Committee: What is the FCDO’s plan B in Gaza?
The Foreign Affairs Committee is today (Tuesday 14 January) publishing three letters received by the Committee – one from UNRWA and two from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) – as part of its inquiry into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
14 January 2025
Lord Sedwill: Lord Speaker's Corner
Former diplomat, Cabinet Secretary and National Security Adviser Mark Sedwill – Lord Sedwill – is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner
12 December 2024
Israeli UNRWA ban risks violating multiple international laws – International Development Committee Chair
The Chair of the International Development Committee has asked the Foreign Secretary how the Government will respond to Israel’s planned ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which comes into effect on 28 January 2025.
28 November 2024
Foreign Affairs Committee launches inquiry into Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Today the Foreign Affairs Committee launches an inquiry into the UK’s role in finding a resolution to the long-standing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
25 November 2024
Decisions of the Petitions Committee, 12 November 2024
On 12 November 2024 the Committee considered e-petitions that had received over 100,000 signatures. The Committee also considered e-petitions that had received over 10,000 signatures and received a Government response, and public petitions that had received a Government observation.
14 November 2024
IDC Chair responds to shocking evidence on Gaza healthcare
The International Development Committee heard evidence on the current state of healthcare in Gaza.
12 November 2024
UN sustainable development goals discussed in the Lords
Members debate the impact of conflict, extreme poverty and climate-related emergencies globally. Catch up
18 October 2024